Saina Nehwal may have lost the world championship final to Carolina Marin on Sunday, but the champion shuttler from the city scaled the summit in world rankings in women’s singles.

The latest rankings will be officially released on Monday and ironically Marin, the reigning World No.1, loses that privilege despite being crowned world champion for the second time. “It was a great match and the Spanish girl played better. Yes it would have been great if Saina had won the gold,” Saina’s father Harvir Singh remarked immediately after the final.

“But, I am glad she has shown the others what the Indians can achieve in women’s badminton,” he said. “The best part is that Saina’s medal haul is complete now having won the silver, again the first ever by an Indian in a world championship,” the proud father pointed out.

Making a critical analysis of where she went wrong in the final on Sunday, Dr. Harvir felt she was good on either flanks but need to shore up her game when she plays standing in the centre for she seems to be struggling to get the space for those quick returns.

Dr. Harvir Singh said that Saina is a vastly improved player after moving to Vimal Kumar in Bengaluru. “She had to go there for better prospects as she needed isolated and focussed training. “It’s like changing the school for your kids and Saina went to Vimal with the consent of Gopi bhayya,” he said. “Yes Saina will continue to train in Bengaluru as this is the crucial year of Olympics preparations.”

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by V.V. Subrahmanyam / Hyderabad – August 17th, 2015